Chapter 14-B

Die Anywhere Else

A single click of a mouse is all it takes to witness Night in the Woods flying higher than they ever could have hoped.

Gentle synth keyboard notes in two patterns guide the viewer through a high-bloom view of the streets of Possum Springs. They slowly grow louder and more distinct as photos and flickering clips of the original band, including Casey, flicker by. Eventually, they grow older, and Casey's missing poster comes up just before the bass drum and bass guitar kick off, followed by the guitar riff.

It cuts to everyone gathered in the Party Barn for practice, all looking tired and distracted. From there, it cuts to the woods behind the Hartley home, and even down into the flooded subway tunnel for a moment, before returning to the Party Barn with the lyrics.

Dust on this tired old street,

Mark corners where we used to play.

The camera cuts to footage of them all gathered in Casey's yard for their first practice, and a short clip of Mae and Bea as energetic young girl scouts.

Dust trace our tired old feet,

In circles as we pace our time away

The camera then cuts to them playing in the decay of the abandoned glass factory, the old construction equipment by the collapsed mine, and a bit more down in the tunnel, as random people pass by paying them no mind at all.

I just wanna die anywhere else.

If only I could die anywhere else…

So come with me let's die anywhere else.

Anywhere…

Just not here.

Just as the bass line returns, it slides in and gets just a little bouncier, and the band appears to be just a bit more energized. A few tired smiles, cocky smirks, and determined, yet weary eyes. Gregg starts to hop a bit as he plays and Angus leans into him and peeks back with a loving grin. Selma starts to dance and bounce in her seat as she loses herself in the music, mixing up the beat just a bit. Mae starts hopping backwards on one foot behind Bea with her head flailing and being her usual goofball self while Bea just laughs it off and almost messes up her keys.

Stuck on this dead end street,

Where all the new kids come to play.

For a moment, the camera even cuts to Mr. Myers joint of view as he records Law on the job with his own camera, and leaves his son flustered and trying to back out of frame. Germ can be seen waving in the background. From there, it cuts to the Borowskis, Mr. Myers, Jackie, and even Jen gathered to watch them play in the Party Barn and fawning over them.

Stuck where the past and future meet,

Watching all our autumns drift away.

As the second chorus kicks in, the camera starts to rapidly shift between different sweeping shots of every venue they picked. A shot of the tunnel with the defaced mural. Another with the dilapidated Party Barn, then the woods now deep in the night and lit with orange and yellow fairy light amidst the leafless trees, giving the illusion of autumn in winter. As the camera sweeps past, Mea leans in for a slow-motion close-up of her patented Nightmare Eyes. They're even in Gregg and Angus' apartment, then up on the roof with the river in the distance behind them. After a quick shot in the abandoned theater, the zoom out and fade to show the theater packed with fans from across the town.

I just wanna die anywhere else.

If only I could die anywhere else…

So come with me let's die anywhere else.

Anywhere,

just not here…

Suddenly, it cuts to footage taken the day before the big show. Everyone loading their cars to leave, sharing a pizza from a place across the street from the venue, setting up the equipment and cameras, testing the lights, and even a few shots of them peeking past the curtains in a frenzy or panic as the crowd gathers, even Law. As these moments pass, the more somber bridge begins to play, and Mae even adds a new layer part of the way in.

And if they ever hear my name,

Will they know I walked alone

Around these dusty streets,

My tired old home?

Oh where did he go?

More sporadic shots of early band practices and Mrs. Hartley's recordings of the three to start it take over the video once more. They're gathered around his bedroom writing songs together, even a close-up of the lyric sheet for this very song. These then cut back and forth with clips of them taking their places for the last song of their first real show, in that abandoned subway station.

And will they ever get to see

He was just here…

Or will they ever even to know

Now something's missing

How long it will be till all out leaves are buried under snow?

Some-one-, some-where-, in the undertow

Their voices grow louder, their hearts stronger, as the camera transitions to Angus walking away from his old family home in a huff, with Gregg on his arm. This is followed by Bea standing at her mother's grave, placing a bouquet of black flowers there, her final goodbye to who was once the most important person in her life. Those two were staged, but it's quick followed by genuine footage of headed off to college, giving Casey one last hug, the last time she ever saw him, ever held him. As all this plays out on screen, Mae and the rest of the band trade places with their vocals.

And we try, and we try, and we must survive-

And will they ever stop to think

But it's just so hard when

What was here before, no

Everything around me dies

They won't remember that you're-

So

Slow-

And the camera flickers to a close-up of the band on stage in the subway, zooming out across the audience in a shot Law set up a rope swing for.

GOOOOOOOO-

-ly

We've got to HOLD ON TO ANYTHING!

-OOOOOOOoOoOOOOOOOOONE!

And as Selma's drums kick in with a rapid fill leading into a more bombastic final chorus as the lights on stage flash and they the camera cuts to her and her kit, and cuts one by one to everybody. Most of them have tears in their eyes as everything that's led them here and what this moment means overwhelms them, but they play their hearts out. Gregg and Angus are leaning on each other to the point each other's weight is the only thing keeping them both up as they belt out their lyrics and Gregg throws the riff aside for a long, soulful solo. Bea is practically slamming on the keys and throwing in extra notes just because they feel right in this incredible moment. Selma's hair is a wild mess as she loses herself entirely in the beat. Mae's tears are flying as she throws her head back and her knees buckle while belting out that one glorious line.

I just wanna die anywhere else!

If only I could die anywhere else!

So come with me, let's die anywhere else!

Anywhere,

Just not heeeeere-

Selma goes absolute apeshit on the drums, the solo-modified riff jumps up a step, and their voices grow louder, stronger, and more confident than ever.

I just wanna die anywhere else!

I refuse to give in to this fear!

If only I could die anywhere else!

Now let's get up and get out of here!

So come with me, let's die anywhere else!

You may be gone, but I'm taking you with me!

Anywhere….

With the last few lines, the final shots are of the band walking off stage in slow motion, into the empty tunnel beyond, then fading into them with arms around each other as they walk down a bright, empty Possum Springs street at sunset.

Just not here… no.

Finally, as the song ends, the final screen is a collage of photos of Casey, including at the foundation of the band, dead-and-center, with a simple caption:

Dedicated to Casey Hartley.

With us wherever we may go.

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A.N.: Additional lyrics in the bridge are by 4-Piano Orchestra on youtube, additional lyrics in the final chorus are entirely by me.